Ironically, Itoje was named as a brand ambassador for a major health insurance company on Wednesday – just three days before shattering a bone in his hand against Scarlets in the Champions Cup pool game.

It is a huge blow for England boss Eddie Jones who has also lost fellow back-row forwards James Haskell, Jack Clifford, Sam Jones and Mike Williams to long-term injuries.

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Eddie Jones will find out whether Maro Itoje will miss test series against South Africa with broken hand